Faculty

Our teachers share a deep respect for children and a commitment to lifelong learning, both for their students and for themselves.

They strive to bring scholarship and community values to life through their actions in the classroom and through their commitment to the school and to the wider community.

The role of the Waldorf teacher is to understand and engage each student's individual learning needs in order to awaken and inspire their capacity for self-initiated learning and long-term academic success.

All of our class teachers are certified or are seeking to achieve certification in Waldorf teacher training. Teachers upgrade and refresh their Waldorf training by participating in professional development sessions and conferences, and summer courses and workshops. In addition to their Waldorf qualifications, our teachers come to us with a wide variety of formal and in-service educational credentials. Some have advanced degrees, others have public school teaching experience and certification. In addition to being teachers, many of our faculty members have achieved excellence in other fields.

Although each child at the London Waldorf School has one major class teacher, our faculty sees teaching as a collaborative enterprise. A variety of class and subject teachers will contribute to each child's learning experience. In addition, the teachers meet regularly to study, share teaching experiences, discuss pedagogical and curricular matters, and coordinate details of the school routine. Like most Waldorf schools, the London Waldorf School has no principal. The Faculty selects a pedagogical chairperson and an administrative chairperson from among the teachers. A pedagogical committee is selected to oversee the pedagogical work of the school, including teacher evaluation, standards, and teacher development and concerns.

Michelle Brooks

Licensed Toddler Program Lead Teacher
Licensed Childcare Supervisor

Michelle is a member of the Ontario College of Teachers. She completed her Bachelor of Arts with a specialization in History at Concordia University and her Bachelor of Education in the Primary-Junior Consecutive Program at York. Additionally, she has completed courses in Teacher Education including: Childhood Education, Librarianship and Reading, and Special Education, Behaviour, as well as a Diversity Initiative in Teacher Education. Michelle recently completed her Early Childhood Education Diploma.

At LWS since 2015.

Tara DeLuca

Kindergarten Lead Teacher

(Currently on maternity leave)

B.A. University of Waterloo. Certified to Teach English as a Second Language in Ontario. Previously was the After School Care Provider for four years, and office administrative assistant for two years at LWS. Completed Introduction to Working with Children from Birth to Three. Has completed Foundations Studies in Anthroposophy and is currently completing her ECE Diploma at Fanshawe College.

At LWS since 2006.

Heidi Gemmell

Parent & Child Lead Teacher

Kindergarten Teacher (Afternoons)

Bachelor of Arts specializing in Visual Arts and B.Ed. with Honours, University of Western Ontario; recipient of the Dorothy Emery Memorial Award in Visual Arts Education presented at Althouse, U.W.O. for excellence in art education both in practicum and at the faculty of education. Heidi has completed her ECE Waldorf Teacher Training from Rudolf Steiner Centre in Toronto. Heidi also has seven years experience teaching art camps and classes to small groups of children out of her home.

At LWS since 2012.

Myriam Hammami

Licensed Preschool Program Lead Teacher

ECE Chairperson

Myriam has a BSc in Biology. She has worked with children since 2000 through a variety of artistic, environmental and outdoor education programs in addition to running a Waldorf-inspired home daycare and parent and child group. Myriam has completed Foundations Studies through the Rudolf Steiner Centre in Toronto. Currently, Myriam is completing her ECE diploma at Fanshawe College and her Waldorf Early Childhood training with Lifeways North America. Since being at LWS, Myriam has worked in Kindergarten, Parent and Child as well as the Licensed Preschool Program.

At LWS since 2012.

Marsha Horn

Kindergarten Assistant

After Care Provider

B.A. in Human Ecology (Family Studies) and Minor in Sociology from Brescia University College (UWO). Has worked within elementary schools for 7 years running various programs including the Before and After School program.

At LWS since 2015.

Dana Lascelles

Kindergarten Lead Teacher

(Currently on leave)

B.A. University of Western Ontario. In-service training at London Waldorf School. Waldorf Early Childhood professional development courses though Rudolf Steiner Institute, Maine. Preschool Kindergarten Assistant/Lead teacher, Parent and Child lead teacher and off-campus drop-in play group leader, all at London Waldorf School. Two years home-based daycare.

At LWS since 2002.

Elida Lika

Licensed Preschool Program Assistant
Aftercare Provider

Elida has her Bachelor of Elementary Education in the faculty of Science from her native Albania. She taught Grades One to Four for six years before coming to London, where she volunteered as a teacher assistant in Grade One and two years in the Parent and Child program. She has been the before/aftercare provider at LWS since 2007 and Nursery assistant since 2010.

Tanya Naha

Licensed Preschool Program Assistant
Aftercare Provider

(Currently on maternity leave)

Tanya is a recent graduate of the early childhood leadership degree program from Fanshawe College and is a registered early childhood educator.

At LWS since 2015.

Patricia Romero

Kindergarten Lead Teacher

Registered Early Childhood Educator graduated from Fanshawe College. Joined LWS as a volunteer in 2015 and worked as a supply teacher for the Licensed Preschool Program and Kindergarten. Patricia began as a Kindergarten Assistant in 2016-17 school year. Patricia continues her education at workshops offered through Lifeways North America and the Rudolf Steiner Centre, Toronto.

Natalie Sanchez

Licensed Toddler Assistant

After Care Provider

Elvira Kubat Schulz

Kindergarten Lead Teacher

Kindergarten Teacher for eight years at the German Language School London. Training courses taken at the German Language School. Elvira recently completed her Early Childhood Educator Diploma from Fanshawe College. She is a registered Early Childhood Educator with the CECE in Toronto.

At LWS since 2007.

Devin Walsh

Kindergarten Assistant, Aftercare Provider

Devin has a diploma in Child and Youth Work from Fanshawe College. She has been employed with the Thames Valley District School Board for eleven years, as an Educational Assistant. She has also continued her education by taking workshops such as “Students Anxiety in the Classroom” and “Tried, Tested and True: Tools for Supporting Tough Situations in the Classroom”.

At LWS since 2017.

Erin Poirier

Grade One Teacher

Language Arts Teacher, Phys. Ed. Teacher

Erin has a B.A. with honours from the University of Guelph (majoring in English and minoring in History) and a B.Ed. from Lakehead University (Intermediate-Senior). In addition to class teaching, Erin has taught as a specialty teacher in the subjects of French, Phys Ed, Global Studies, and Language Arts. She graduated her first class in 2017.

Imke Jorgensen

M.A. in Anthropology from J.W. Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany. Imke is responsible for the creation of our naturalized playground.

Teaching At LWS since 2001.

Melissa Hambleton

Grade Four Class Teacher
Music and Choir Teacher

Melissa was on the Dean’s Honour List for both her Bachelor of Education, Junior/Intermediate Division (Vocal Music), and her Bachelor of Music, Honours Music Education with Distinction, which she received from Western University in 2004 and 2005. She also obtained a certificate in Special Education Part One at Western University.

Sue McCarthy

Grade Six/Seven Class Teacher
Art Teacher

Anthroposophy, Early Childhood, and Grade School studies Rudolf Steiner Centre, Cape Town. BA, B.Ed. University of Natal South Africa. Five years teaching High School History and English, and ten years working with previously disadvantaged children and adults in community-run education initiatives in South Africa. Seven years teaching in Early Childhood Education, four years subject lesson teaching in a combined Grade Five to Eight classroom, and six years Grade School main lesson class teaching.
At LWS since 2006.

Kim Quai

Class Teacher
Music Teacher, Crafts Teacher

(Currently on leave)

B.A. Child and Youth Studies, Brock University, St. Catharines; B.Ed. Brock University; Additional qualifications in Special Education and Reading; Art and Supply teacher for District School Board of Niagara; Piano teacher; Three years at Trillium Waldorf School in Guelph. Currently in Foundations Studies in Anthroposophy.

At LWS since 2011.

Merwin Lewis

Supplementary Main Lesson and Enrichment Teacher
Pedagogical Chair

Twenty-seven years of experience as a teacher. Board member of LWS for thirty-five years. M.Music., M.L.S. Indiana University. Past faculty member at the Rudolf Steiner Institute, Maine, for summer courses. Composer, poet, and playwright. Past Board member and present Foundations Studies Instructor for the Rudolf Steiner Centre, Toronto.

Berit Strasser

Additional Language Chair

French Teacher

Art Teacher

Berit attended Rudolf Steiner Schools in Switzerland for 11 years. Bachelor of Fine Arts at Mount Allison University, 2003 (Visual Arts), Aromatic Medicine Diploma, 2009. Since 1999, Berit has been teaching children and adults in various capacities including ECE teacher, Camp instructor, French tutor, and leading her own art classes for children. Began teaching art at LWS as a volunteer in 2011 and has been teaching French and Art along with other subjects since 2012. Waldorf Professional Development: “Painting Through the Grades in Waldorf School”, 2014; “Teaching Secondary languages in Waldorf Grades 1-3”, 2015; “World Languages”, 2017; Painting out of the Colour”, 2018.

At LWS since 2011.

Hélѐne Lau

French Teacher

Hélѐne grew up in France. She earned her B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Neurosciences from McGill University. Advanced diploma in Behavioural Sciences from St. Lawrence College, Kingston, ON. Experience with teaching students with special needs for 4 years in a French Elementary School in London. At LWS since 2017.

Sandra Paterson

Learning Resource Teacher

After graduating as Speech Language Pathologist (SLP), Sandra attended the Waldorf Teacher Education Centre in Brazil. Owned and operated a private practice as an SLP for 16 years, using Steiner methods. Sandra is also a potter.

At LWS since 2012.

Dagmar “Dasha” Kovar

Handwork Teacher, Homeschooling Coordinator

M.Sc. in Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague; Pedagogy and Psychology for teachers, Charles University in Prague; supply teaching in our Grade School and Early Childhood Education program for number of years. Dasha is an accomplished fibre artist and former parent at LWS. She graduated with honours from the Artist-Educator Skills Development course at the Royal Conservatory in 2009. Teaching at LWS since 2007.

Jessica Deakin

Specialty Subject Teacher

(Currently on Maternity Leave)

BA in Environmental studies, an MA in Geography, a BA in Education for the junior/intermediate level, and an MA in Educational Psychology. She has taught in Japan, in England, in the Thames Valley School Board and at LWS (supply teaching). She has also worked in the Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychosis at LHSC.

At LWS since 2015.

Natalia Popolov

Specialty Subject Teacher

Ms. Popolov’s previous work experience includes practicing Internal Medicine & Rheumatology as a Physician in Moscow, volunteering in Parent & Child and two of our Kindergartens, assisting in our Summer Camp, working in our afternoon Kindergarten program and volunteering and supplying in our Grade school. She also teaches Aikido to children and is the founder and Lead Teacher of Russian Circle – a home-based weekly club for Russian-speaking children.

Mary Ashton

Violin Teacher

B.Ed., University of Western Ontario; Honours B.A. Music University of Western Ontario. Ms. Ashton comes to us with many years of teaching experience in private, classroom and small group instruction.

Mary has been at LWS since 2002.

Rebecca Soltan

Cello Teacher

Rebecca began playing cello at the age of 11 at St. Mary’s Choir School in London. Cello has continued to be part of her life since and she has performed as part of the London Youth Symphony, the Bermuda Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Community Orchestra. She has also enjoyed being part of small ensembles that play new compositions for university students, quartets or duets at weddings and sharing music with friends in her home. Helping to create a cello program at London Waldorf School in 2013 was a new endeavour and a change from her role as Business Manager at the school.

Ruth Baer

Administrative Chairperson

Business Manager at London Waldorf school from 2007 to 2014. Previously Parent and Child Assistant for two years. Operated own bookkeeping business for ten years. Eighteen years of experience in business and office management prior to coming to LWS.

Carol Lewis

Administrative Assistant

In Administration since 2007. Twenty-four years of experience as a Waldorf teacher. Active founding member of LWS in 1980. Waldorf Teacher Education Program, Rudolf Steiner Centre, Toronto. B.A., Kalamazoo College; M.A., Ph.D., Indiana University. Four years of experience university teaching.

Leigh Ann Preston-Gansevles

Marketing Coordinator

Fifteen years experience in business administration, including budget management and creation and implementation of marketing strategy. Owned and operated a small business for five years. Over the years, has coordinated events and marketing endeavours for several health care facilities, as well as for her own business. Volunteer and fundraising experience includes LWS Parent Association Co-Chair from 2011 to 2015. At LWS since 2013.

Annette Trovato

Office and Admissions Coordinator

B.A., University of Waterloo; Montessori Teacher Certificate, Foundation for Montessori Education, Toronto, Ontario; Computerized Office Certificate, Fanshawe College. Four years of teaching experience in Montessori schools. Thirteen years of experience in administration. In administration at LWS since 2000.

Sumeet Khullar

Manager of Finance

CPA-CA with fifteen years of progressive management experience in various finance roles for both large and small corporations, including audit, internal controls, financial reporting and budgeting functions. Experiences are varied from both public and private sector. B.Comm, University of Toronto. At LWS since 2016.

Max Lucas

Before Care Provider

Max completed a B.Mus., Honours in Composition from the University of Western Ontario and also works as a composer and private music instructor in the London area. At LWS since 2017.

Sally Carlton

After Care Provider

Sally earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and History, from Western University (when it was still the University of Western Ontario) and an Educational Assistant Certificate from Fanshawe College. She is an Adult Literacy Instructor with the Thames Valley District School Board, with her classroom at Hutton House. She has two grown children and three cats who think they are children. At LWS since 2017.

Accredited by the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America and a Full Member of the Waldorf Early Childhood Education Association of North America.